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Investment could open up big doors for hemp industry

Friday, October 26, 2012
9:48:49 MDT AM

Alura Henault sorts through clothing at the Coyote Moon Hemp Company in Grande Prairie, Alberta. A recent investment from the Canadian Government into a Leduc County hemp-fibre processing company may create growth and open up new markets in the textile industry locally, nationally and internationally.

Bobby Roy
leducrep.newsone@sunmedia.ca
A recent investment from the Canadian Government into a Leduc County hemp-fibre processing company may create growth and open up new markets in the textile industry locally, nationally and internationally.
The Hart Fibre Trade Company is introducing the first Canadian scotched hemp processing system — a way of straightening the plant’s fibres so it can used to make textiles.
The government’s investment of $938,000 will help produce higher-value hemp using a process that straightens out the fibres so they can be used to meet the high quality requirements in textile fabrication. The influx of funding into this project allows the Hart Fibre Trade Company to further develop the scotched hemp processing system, which could provide Canadian farmers with lucrative opportunities in the textile industry.
“Hart Fibre expended almost six years of researching and developing the processing system to find a better process path. Federal government funding will strongly push the project forward. If the project is a success, Canadian farmers will have better opportunities go into the international textile market,” explained Zigang Ren, owner and president of Hart.
This will allow processors to use sustainable, locally grown raw material to produce exported goods out of hemp fibres, a high value-added agricultural product that is considered an attractive alternative to cotton. Hemp production is a growing industry in Canada with acreage that has almost doubled over the past year and a projected target of 100,000 acres by 2015.
Agriculture minister, Gerry Ritz made the announcement of the investment for the Hart Fibre Trade Company in early October.
Edmonton-Leduc MP James Rajotte sees the hemp industry as a growing area and believes the investment will give the company a chance to expand into new markets for the future.
“We do try and support innovative products and farmers as much as we can with this program. The more diversity we have in the agricultural sector the better,” said Rajotte.
Hemp can be used to make a variety of products like food, animal feed and bedding, body care products, oils, fuel, auto panels, plastics, paper, home construction and clothing.
Demand for the product is high in large Asian countries like China, said Ren.
“In Asia, there is a huge textile market. The top quality hemp textile products come from China, and other major markets like the States and Europe. The States and Europe have some troubles right now, but we believe they will not always be like that,” explained Ren.
With 20-40 per cent growth from the business sector over the past couple of years, the hope is the growth will not only continue with the investment, but also help secure hemp as a viable product.
If the project is a success, there could also be benefits for local hemp farmers. Once the project is complete, Hart Fibre will be able to develop hemp degum equipment, which will allow them to produce hemp like cotton. This will then in turn open them to more markets within the textile industry, added Ren.
“If the project is a success, Leduc and Alberta hemp farmers will be very close to their market and Hart Fibre will be able to directly purchase the material from them,” noted Ren.
The company does all the basic product and processing at its Leduc County location and the manufacturing is done in China.
The investment is provided through the Canadian Agricultural Adaptation Program (CAAP), a five year, $163 million initiative that aims to help the agricultural sector adapt and remain competitive. In Alberta, the Agriculture and Food Council (AFC) of Alberta delivers the regional component of CAAP.